Release (3 page)

OH. MY. GOD.

Her body betrayed
her, and before she could catch herself, she let out a strangled sound. 
To cover it up, she cleared her throat.  Her pounding heart felt like it
was about to explode from her chest at any moment.  Her face was hot, her
nipples so hard she swore they could cut glass, and she didn’t think her
panties would survive the onslaught of creamy dampness settling between her
thighs.  Her skin felt hypersensitive, tingly all over.

Yes, this man
was good.  And lethal.  Just as she knew he would be.

Determined to
hide her arousal, and embarrassment at his sensual observation of the painting,
she took a deep cleansing breath, and said, “Well.  That’s certainly
an…observation.”

“What’s your
name?” he asked, while he looked at her lips, his hand still on the small of
her back.

She cleared her
throat again.  “Ryann.”

“Ryann,” he
said, as if tasting it on his lips.  His deep voice saying her name
sounded like warm velvet.  “Where were you coming from tonight, Ryann?”

“My home.”

“And where is
that?  New Jersey?”

She didn’t feel
it was necessary to tell him that she wouldn’t be living there for much longer,
so she simply answered, “Yes.”

“Hmph,” he
nodded, but looked like he was going to say something else.

“What?”

He raised an
eyebrow.  “Nothing.”

She broke away from
him, and looked at him.  Examining his facial expression, she took a
guess.  “You’re one of those City snobs, aren’t you?” she asked, her
voiced laced with amusement.

He barked out a
laugh.  “City snob?  What’s that?”

“A City snob,
Jeremy, is someone who lives in the City, and thinks the rest of the world
revolves around the five boroughs,” she said dryly.

He thought for a
moment, then said.  “Well maybe not Staten Island.”

“You
are
a snob!” 

“I don’t know
what you’re talking about.”

“You think just
because I’m from New Jersey, that l’m somehow less than you.  That I’m
less sophisticated, worldly, and worse yet, that I spend my time watching
Jersey
Shore
reruns or something… where most of the cast members, I might add, are
not even from New Jersey,” she said calmly, ready to win this argument.

“I don’t think
less of you at all,” he said seriously.  “But you have to admit that New
York City is the greatest city in the world.”

“I don’t deny
that,” she conceded.

He patted her
shoulder, in what seemed to be a patronizing manner.  “Well, don’t feel
too bad.  New Jersey has many great things to offer.  The shore,
Atlantic City, if that’s your thing, good produce, some quaint towns peppered
throughout the state.”

She stepped out
from under his hand.  “You’re right, and I don’t feel bad in the
least.”  Then she cocked her head at an angle, and studied him.  “And
there must be something there that you’re interested in, since you were coming
into the City via the Holland Tunnel as well,” she said with an eyebrow raised.

“I had a late
business meeting in Newark,” he nodded. 

“Ah, so we can
add ‘business ventures’ to your very
gracious
list of New Jersey
attributes.”

He looked at her
with a glint in his eye.  “Absolutely.”  He paused and leaned
forward, saying quietly, “And beautiful women.”

Flustered, she
looked away and cleared her throat.  Again.  It was a horrible trait
of hers when she was nervous.  And this man definitely made her nervous.

“Well, I’m sure
women across New Jersey are honored to have made your list,” she said annoyed.

He examined her
closely.  “I’ve apparently said something that makes you not like me very
much.  I’m trying to figure out what that was.”

Why was she even
having this conversation?  She was being so snarky.  Her only
explanation was that he pushed her buttons.  She didn’t want to analyze
why.

She sighed, and
looked him in the eye.  “I’m not usually this argumentative.  I
didn’t mean to insult you.”

He
smirked.  “A snob wouldn’t offer a damsel in distress a ride in the middle
of the pouring rain.  That had to have earned me some points.”

“Is that what I
was?”

He skimmed over her body with his
warm gaze.  “Well, you’re definitely a damsel,” he said quietly, “and you
seemed to be distressed.  Wouldn’t anyone who was broken down on the side
of the road be distressed?”

She gave him a
look.  “Would you have been distressed?  Have you ever even
been
broken down on the side of the road?”

“Of
course.”  Pause.  “And it’s quite distressing,” he said with a
twinkle in his eye.

“I’m sure it
is
distressing to you, Jeremy,” she said patting his arm, returning the
patronizing tone he used with her earlier.  “Especially when you have to
spend all that time waiting for a tow truck, in a
limo
,” she said
sweetly.   

He leaned in
close, his eyes glittering.  “Ah, now we’re getting down to the nitty
gritty.  I’ve just figured you out, Ryann.  You’re a worse snob than
you’ve accused
me
of being.  I work very hard for a living, and I’m
not going to apologize for choosing to employ a man to drive me when I need to
be driven somewhere, rather than take the subway or a cab.”

“Nor should
you.  If you have the money, you should be able to use it any way you
like.”

“Thank you for
your permission,” he said drolly.

She
sighed.  What was wrong with her?  Why was she continuing to act this
way?  She didn’t hold it against people if they had money. 
Especially when they used it wisely and to help others.  She was
disappointed in herself.  She didn’t like being a bitch…it didn’t suit her
at all.  He just…made her anxious.  She looked up at him.

“I’m
sorry.” 

He looked at her
in surprise.

“I don’t know
why I’m insulting you.  I’ve had a very long week, and an even longer day,
and I’ve apparently decided to take it out on you.”  She looked away and
cleared her throat. 

With a surprised
look on his face, he grabbed her hand and raised it to his lips.  After
kissing it briefly, he leaned in close and placed his hand on her back
again.  “Thank you.”  He looked at her with warmth in his eyes. 
“I think we just had our first fight,” he said quietly.

Ryann smiled
nervously.

At that moment,
Robbie arrived back with his tray of food.

“Here ya go,
Mrs. T.  At your service,” Robbie said with a smile as he whirled up to
her, showing her the newly loaded tray of food.  He glanced at Jeremy, at
the hand that was now moving away from her back, and returned his gaze to
her.  “Take as many as you want.”

She felt the
loss of Jeremy’s heat immediately as he stepped away from her.  Finally,
she could breathe again.

“Thanks,
Robbie,” she beamed, and grabbed a brie and caramelized onion tartlet, popping
it into her mouth, trying to take the moment to compose herself. 

Jeremy’s warm
expression had turned grim as soon as Robbie had greeted her. Robbie looked at
Jeremy questioningly as if he was about to say something. 

Jeremy beat him
to it. “You haven’t spilled anything on anyone, have you?” he asked
sarcastically.

Robbie grimaced
at him.  “No!  Ha, ha.”

Ryann couldn’t
believe her ears.  How rude could Jeremy be?  “That’s not a very nice
thing to say,” she said protectively.  “He’s doing a fine job. 
Especially given the fact that he has to keep a smile on his face for hours,
while serving all of the people here…the nice ones
and
the
…snobs.”  She said that last word with a challenge.

Jeremy gave her
a look.

Robbie jumped
in.  “Yeah, you tell him, Mrs. T.  I’m doing a fine job.” 

Was she
imagining things, or did Robbie just stick his tongue out at the man.  The
teacher in her immediately came out, and she jumped back in to resolve the
potential conflict she saw brewing with Robbie and one of the very rich
guests.  The last thing she wanted was for him to get into trouble.

“Ok, stop,” as
she put her hand up.  “Thanks for the food, Robbie.  Why don’t you
keep doing what you have to do, and we’ll chat more later.”

With what
appeared to be a look of amusement in his eyes, Jeremy said, “Yes,
Robbie.  And you should watch that tone of voice when talking to the
guests.  You’re supposed to be respectful at all times.  Even when you
don’t think the guests deserve it.  I don’t want to have to talk to your
supervisor.”  He gave Robbie a pointed look.

“Whoa!  No
one needs to talk to anyone’s supervisor.  Everyone calm down. 
Robbie, you get back to work, now.  I’ll see you later.”  She gave
him her typical teacher look that said
You know better than to get into
this.  Just move on.

She sensed
Robbie was going to say more, but he smiled at her and said, “Alright, Mrs.
T.”  Then he turned to Jeremy and said, “I’ll find
you
later.”

Did she just
witness a gauntlet being thrown down by a 19 year old boy, to a 30 something
year old man?  At a friggin’ art showing in the middle of the art mecca of
the world?  Good grief.  What was it with men?

She turned to
see Jeremy following Robbie with his gaze, a strange look on his face. 
This man totally confused her.

“
You haven’t
spilled anything on anyone?
  That’s the comment you choose to make to
a young waiter?” she asked in an exasperated tone.  “You didn’t need to
antagonize him.  He’s just a kid, for crying out loud.”

He looked back
at her and smiled.  However, this smile was wistful, and missing the heat
from their earlier moments together.  “You’re right.  Mrs
.
T,
was it?  Please forgive me.  I’ve detained you long enough.  I
won’t keep you from that special someone you’ve been trying to get to all
night.  Excuse me.”  He nodded, then turned and walked away.

She
blinked.  Hmph.  O-kay. 

Well, that was
abrupt. 

She watched him
walk away and felt somewhat deflated.   Apparently, he wouldn’t be showing
her around the gallery after all.  Not that she encouraged him, but
still.  The last time she had been rejected by a guy was junior year in
high school, when Jason Cather told Ayanna he wanted to break up with
her. 

As she saw
Jeremy begin to mingle with another group of people, she could almost hear
Ayanna screaming at her now. 
Well, what the hell did you
expect?!  You haven’t acted interested at all!  And you’ve been kind
of bitchy to him ever since he approached you.  Shit, Ry, I don’t know
what I’m going to do with you.  You’re hopeless.  You’ve got to play
a little, be flirty.  Are you missing some female chromosome or something?

Maybe she
was
hopeless.  She just wasn’t ready to jump back into the fray.  This
encounter just proved that her emotions weren’t ready yet.  She felt so
many things at the moment, she was completely discombobulated by the whole
evening.  She was aroused, annoyed, disappointed…take your pick. 

Now all she
wanted to do was get out of here.  But not until she did what she came
here to do.  It was time to pull herself up by the bootstraps. 
Looking at her watch she realized it was after 11.  Time was
wasting. 

She turned and
walked toward Robbie’s parents with purpose, determined not to be waylaid
again.

…..

She made her way
over to where Mr. and Mrs. Callahan were, and hovered off to the side, not
wanting to interrupt their conversation. 

While waiting,
Ryann glanced back just in time to see Jeremy talking to Robbie.  Their
faces looked serious.  She started biting her lip, hoping Jeremy wasn’t
insulting poor Robbie again, or that Robbie was being disrespectful. 

A moment later
she noticed them both smiling at each other, Jeremy clapping Robbie on the
back.  Relief swept over her.  It looked like they wouldn’t be
meeting out back by the bike rack after all. 

A second later,
she heard the exclamation, “Mrs. Thornton!  Is that you?  How
wonderful to see you!  Please.  Join us!” 

Mrs. Callahan
graciously pulled her into the group, and gave her a hug.  “How
are
you?  Have you seen Robbie?  He’s working the event as one of the
wait staff tonight.  He’ll be so happy to see you!”

Ryann returned
the hug and said, “Yes, actually, he was the one who let me know you were
here!”  She turned to Robbie’s dad, and greeted him with a smile. 
“Hello, Mr. Callahan, it’s good to see you again.”

“You too, Mrs.
Thornton.  Now that Robbie has graduated, we never get to see you
anymore!” he said good naturedly.  “I’m so glad that I have the
opportunity to tell you again what an integral role you played in his
education.  Robbie has always told us that you were his favorite teacher,
and that he learned so much from you.  You’re still teaching at the
Academy, I assume?”

“Yes...I’m still
forming the young minds of Manhattan,” she said jokingly.  “And thank you
for the kind words.  It’s always wonderful to hear you’ve made a positive
impact on your students.”   Although she was hoping for a job change
soon,
and
she hoped Mrs. Callahan’s sister played a role in that, Ryann
wanted to play her cards close to the vest.  The high school still didn’t
know of her plans, and she wasn’t sure if Robbie’s parents were involved with
the hierarchy of the Academy in any way.

“Are you
enjoying the showing?” Mr. Callahan asked.

“I’m sure I will
once I get around to seeing all the pieces.  Unfortunately, I had a little
car trouble getting here tonight, and only got here a bit ago.  But I
can’t wait to finally walk around.  As I told Robbie, Ms. Lowe is one of
my favorite artists, and I’ve been looking forward to this showing since it was
first publicized,” Ryann beamed, already anticipating what they would say next.